We’ve heard for years about the impact of the baby boom generation. In Canada,the boom years spanned from 1946 to 1965.

During those 20 years more than 8 million babies were born–an average of more than 400 thousand per year. To put that in perspective there were 377 thousand births in 2008, when Canada’s population was double that of the boom years.

The baby boom generation has driven almost every major change in our society from food to fashion to entertainment. Now, as many of those people retire, or at least start to think about it, they will continue to have a big impact.

Census numbers from 2016 indicate 2.3 million people over the age of 65 live in Ontario. By 2041 that total will double to 4.6 million, making up 25 per cent of the province’s population. Life expectancy has risen dramatically in Canada over the last 50 years.

Many of them will continue to work. A Vanier Institute study suggests almost half of all people expect to continue working past the age of 65. (That same survey says the average retirement age has increased to almost 64)

Health and finances are the major concerns for people of any age, but those issues are magnified for seniors.

The effect of demographics on every aspect of public and social policy is remarkable. Our local communities in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo are all working to become more age friendly.

United Way Waterloo Region Communities invests in many networks and programs which help people of all ages. That includes the 2-1-1 information network which offers an easy path to discover information about the myriad of programs for seniors in any area. If you’re not sure where to start looking for help for yourself, or a senior in your life 211 is an ideal launching point.

You can click here to see a list of the agencies we fund, and the networks to which we belong.

“Everything we do in the digital realm – from surfing the Web to sending an e-mail to conducting a credit card transaction to, yes, making a phone call – creates a data trail. And if that trail exists, chances are someone is using it – or will be soon enough.”-Douglas Rushkoff, author of “Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus”

The discussion and concern about privacy and security of our personal information is growing.

The rise and fall of Cambridge Analytica and the information it may have gathered and passed along from millions of Facebook accounts has resulted in a wave of Terms of Service emails as companies scramble to protect themselves.

But as much as the author Douglas Rushkoff warns of the trail we all leave on the internet, identity theft often begins in a very low-tech way.

Pieces of mail taken while on a dumpster diving expedition can lead a savvy thief to a treasure trove. Not only does it threaten your personal security, it but could result in financial ruin.

Identity thieves are a crafty bunch and their motivations can be wide ranging, from posing as a doctor to getting into an Ivy League school.

On May 26th, Shred-Tech in Cambridge will hold its 11th annual “Shred for a Cause” day.

In partnership with Preston Towne Centre, the company will bring in a shredding truck to give you the opportunity to destroy all those personal documents.

Most of us have recently finished our tax returns. Those documents–from banks, credit cards and more are obvious targets. As this article points out there are many other pieces of paper you might not consider problematic but can be valuable in the wrong hands.

On Shred Day a grocery bag full of papers will cost $3 to dispatch into confetti. A bankers box will cost just $7.

All proceeds from the day go to United Way Waterloo Region Communities.

According to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, the cost of identity theft in 2008 was more than 7 billion dollars. And it’s a crime which has been growing.

It is difficult to stay up to date on all the latest scams and fraudulent practices, but a simple step such as destroying personal papers offers some level of protection.

There’s now just one place to go for residents to find volunteer opportunities and for community organizations to recruit volunteers in Waterloo Region.

After a successful partnership covering three decades, the Volunteer Centre of Cambridge, run by United Way Waterloo Region Communities, and the Volunteer Action Centre of Kitchener-Waterloo have pooled their resources and expertise to better serve both member organizations and volunteers. As part of the transition, the latter organization has rebranded as the Volunteer Action Centre of Waterloo Region and has updated its website and social media handles to reflect its wider reach.

The Volunteer Action Centre believes all parties will benefit from a region-wide system, increasing exposure for both potential volunteers and the organizations in need of their support. The Centre’s online database now houses volunteer opportunities from nearly 200 organizations across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich and North Dumfries.

In addition to its office at 151 Frederick Street, Suite 500 in Kitchener, ON, the Volunteer Action Centre is also excited to offer in-person support for volunteers and members at a new satellite office in Cambridge, ON every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This new service will be offered out of the Region of Waterloo’s Employment Resource Centre located at 150 Main Street, Cambridge, ON.

United Way Waterloo Region Communities is proud to invest in volunteerism locally and will continue to provide funding for the Volunteer Action Centre’s work across the Region of Waterloo.

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About the Volunteer Action Centre

The Volunteer Action Centre, established in 1984, has a mission to build and develop community capacity for volunteerism. The centre supports nearly 200 community organizations to recruit, retain and recognize volunteers, and provides professional development related to volunteerism. The centre also collaborates with municipalities, businesses and post-secondary institutions to strengthen community engagement.

United Way Waterloo Region Communities is the largest funder of social programs in the region outside of government. Working in collaboration with our partner agencies we are striving to provide everyone the best opportunity to reach their full potential. Find out more at our website.